The most surprising finding: consensus. The narrative that we can no longer find common ground falls short when we look at what the vast majority of parents have to say.
 
Parents overwhelmingly agree on this: stop politicizing civic education and teach our kids about America’s founding documents and ideas.
 
The poll—conducted by RealClear Opinion Research in partnership with the Trafalgar Group—surveyed over 1,000 parents of K-12 students across the country.
 
Among those surveyed, 89 percent agree that it is “very important” to learn about America’s founding principles. Over 92 percent believe that the achievements of key historical figures should be taught, even if their views do not align with modern values.
 
This consensus crossed racial and political differences.
 
Over 89 percent of Black parents and 84 percent of Hispanic parents agreed it is “very important” for their child to have “a basic understanding of the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the responsibilities of citizenship before they graduate high school.” Over 80 percent of Democrats, Republicans, and those who identified no party affiliation share the same belief.
 
Overall, the results show that our nation’s parents continue to share a basic sense of identity that is grounded in the foundational ideas and documents of America, and they want the same for their children. This should give us hope for America’s future that people see value in learning about America’s fundamental principles and the ideas that underpin our free society.
 
If we can start from this point, we can and will find the common ground we need for respectful and productive debate on the things about which we disagree.
 
Loud, divisive narratives will not end, but it is time that we speak up for the hope we share as Americans. The vast majority of parents believe the American political tradition is worthy of passing along to the rising generation of citizens. That should inform the reinvigoration of civic education, and together we should celebrate our nation’s story of equality, liberty, and opportunity for all that is still being written.


Yours gratefully,

Hans Zeiger
President, Jack Miller Center 
[email protected]